I’ve been getting the Signatera test after my colon cancer metastasized into lung cancer. I’ve had eight negative results over two years.
Signatera is a personalized blood test that detects the DNA of your cancer in your blood. Signatera is a custom-built, highly sensitive test that uses tumor and blood samples to detect very low levels of molecular residual disease (MRD), or small traces of cancer, using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), allowing an individual and their healthcare provider access to more information, sooner.
Per their website, “A positive Signatera™ result predicts relapse with overall positive predictive value more than 98%.” Keep in mind that this test is for reoccurrence of cancer for people who have already been diagnosed with cancer and are currently in remission. It is NOT a general cancer screening test, but an individualized test to detect a marker or indicator of their being a possibility of reoccurrence of cancer.
If the cost of the Galleri blood test in the article is relatively low, these results are absolutely fabulous to use as a generalized screening test for cancer markers. Keep in mind that most people only get tested if they are exhibiting symptoms, thus a generalized screening test will result in lower accuracy.
The Signatera approach sounds practically as ideal as we could hope for, with today’s technology.
That is one everyone who has had cancer should get.